Method of and apparatus for splitting glass cylinders.



M. K. MGMULLIN.

METHOD OI AND APPARATUS FOR SPLITTING GLASS CYLINDERS.

APPLICATION FILED HOV.B,1909.

Patented July 18,1911.

UNITED STATES ratrnnrr OFFICE.

MATTHEW K. McMULLIN, or rrr'rsnumn rEnNsYLvAmA, 'AsstoNon 'ro wfi'cnowGLASS MACHINE COMPANY, or rrrrsnungqrnnnsrnvann, a conrourxon or NEW JEBSEY;

METHOD or arm arrana'rus msri'irrrmqmnus crnmnnas.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, MA'rrHEw K. M0- MULLIN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Pittsburg, in the l tate of Penn? sylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of andApparatus forSplitting Glass Cylinders, of which the following is a specifications Myinvention relates generally to the art of making window glass from drawnor blown cylinders, or rollers, and particularly to means for splittingthe cylinders for the purpose of flattening into sheets.

The principal object of the invention is to prevent the edges of a splitcylinder from overlapping. grinding or knocking together when the s litoccurs and separate the edges.

1 have illustrated the invention in the accompanying drawing in twoforms.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the end of a glass cylinder with myappliance in place therein. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a frontelevation and a central vertical section of a modified form of devicefor the same purpose. Figs. 4 and 5 represent partial sections of aglass cylinder showing, respectively, the positions taken by the edgesof the split cylinder when split without the use of my invention, andthen when the invention is used. 1 I

In the splitting of glass cylinders the tension of the cylinder is suchthat as the cylinder is split or cracked open longitudinally, the splitedges are apt to strike or grind toget her, or slide sidewise andoverlap, as shown in Fig. 4. This often breaks the entire cylinder andattempts have been made to overcome it by annealing the cylinder beforesplitting, This action occurs in drawn glass cylinders as well as inblown g] a ss cylinders.

My invention is designed 'to overcome this diilivulty in cracking orbreaking of the cylimlcrs owing to the interaction of the edges whensplit; and it consists in applying-Amtward pressurito hold the edges against such :ution (luring; splitting as well as in the method or seriesoi steps involved. The outward pressure may he exerted throughout the(-irvumi'crmwe or at separate points, but should lnhexvi'lgd on vac-hside of the splitting lin in carrying out the method and us ng the dmiM-Jat'ter spliti' inc the \'lindm"thc pres- Bpeciflcatlon of LettersPatent. Application filed November U, Berle-1 116. 686,721.

sure-is relaxed adually to allow the 1m edges to slow y come to other.gradual neleaseprevents brea age and the deviceis then removed beforethe cylinder is taken tolthe flattening oven. The-cylin der maybe takento the flattening oven with the edges either butted together or'overlapping; i

- n the form of the device shown in Fi 1,

Patented J my 18, 1911 vthe cylinder 6, when ready to be longi'tudinallysplit, is provided with an expansion device, preferably consisting of acircular frame or band of iron, 8, which may be provided with suchad'usting 'means as the screw 9, to make it t tightly in'thecylinder,and is covered with blocks of wood or asbestos or the like, 10, toprevent scratching the glass. The band 8 has a. reentrant or openportion 11 to allow the insertion of a splitting device such a" adiamond or the hot iron 7, which is moved along a longitudinal line, forheating and splitting in the usual way. When the split occurs, thepressure downward and radially outward on the respective sides of thesplit will cause the edges to remain edged, or slightly separate, asshown at 6 and'fi" in Fig. 5; thereby removing all'danger of injury bythe cylinder edges striking or slipping past each other.

The particular form of the spreading de: vice is not material to myinvention; and I have illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 a modification, inwhich there is 'a wooden strut 12 spliced on to a supplemental strut 13by bolts 14, the two parts being provided with lugs 15 and 1G and anadjusting screw 17 engaging them; The strut of course must have an openslot 18 at the bottom to admit the cracking iron 7 or other splittingtool. The downward pressure onthe two legs of this split strut distortsthe glass. andrnot only prevents the edges of the crackedcylinstepsconsisting of applying outward or bursting strain to the cylinder, andsplit ti the cylinder lengthwise while under sax strain.

' 2. In the splitting of glass cylinders, the steps consisting ofapplying an outward pressure on the interior of the cylinder, and

splitting the cylinder lengthwisewhileinainminingsuch pressure.

3. In the splitting of glass cylinders, the steps consistin of exertingan outwar pressure on both sides of the ortion to be split, andsplit-tin? the cylin nnlly between sai pressure portions.

4. A splitting device for glass cylinders, consisting of a framearranged to be inserted within the cylinder and exert outer longitudi lward ressnre thereon, saidframe being arranger to allow the insertion ofa splitting tool.

5. Means for preventing glass cylinders in splitting, comprising anadjustable band arranged to be inserted within the cylinder and havingits circumference intcrruyted to allow the insertion of g splitting too.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence ofthe two subscribed witnesses.

M A TTI-l EVV \Vitnesses:

Amen A. TRILL, F. \V. ll. CLAY.

the breaking of K. M UMULLIN

